A Pawdcast: A Deity Animal Rescue Podcast A Pawdcast

This week on the Season One Finale of A Pawdcast, we give you The Takedown of The House of Horrors. Becca Chavez from Yaqui Animal Rescue, Kimberly Elliott and Jenny Amuchestegui of the Be Like Josh Foundation, Shira Scott Astrof from the Animal Rescue Mission, and Koco Garcia of HandoverRover walk us through September 22, 2023 in Chandler, Arizona. The day the police department and Arizona Humane Society finally, after years of pleading from worried animal lovers and neighbors, showed up to save 60+ special needs dogs from extreme abuse, neglect and a certain death. April McLaughlin, the hoarder with a sick affinity for these differently abled pups was arrested and taken into custody. As this episode airs McLaughlin has been indicted by a grand jury on 24 counts of animal cruelty, 77 misdemeanor charges, failure to provide medical treatment to an animal and is currently behind bars awaiting to stand trial.

You guys, this is just the tip of the tragic iceberg. Giving you so many details today but there’s so much more to the story. If you have questions put them in the comments below or DM any of us so that we can dive into them in future #Chandler55 episodes. Yep, planning to make it happen.



Now. let’s get into it.



Produced by  @purplebanter  Katia Dragotis & LJ Stead

This week on A Pawdcast we continue the twisted journey leading us in to the House of Horrors. To anyone who was on this horrific ride with us you probably remember the moment when a now iconic video hit your Instagram feed… a video showing a rescuer crying in tears saying “She’s holding our dogs hostage. Please help us”. For most, this is the very moment the entire world became aware of the existence of those precious souls who would soon be known as the #Chandler55 . The woman in the video is Koco Garcia. And the dog she was pleading to the world for help in getting back was Marbles. A sweet, blind pup who was rescued off a chain in Mississippi. In good faith and with the hopes of finding him a better life, Marbles was transferred to the Special Needs Animal Welfare League in Chandler, Arizona. Unbeknonst to Koco, and so many more well intentioned humans, the woman behind SNAWL was an animal abusing hoarder who preyed upon special needs dogs.



Watch and listen as Koco starts from the beginning, giving the details about where Marble’s came from, how he was rescued, and how April McLaughlin inserts herself into the picture. We learn why she begins to suspect something is not right, and how a phone call from a previous victim confirms her worst fear and blows her world wide open. We discuss that iconic video, how it purposefully came together, and how it’s impact motivated a social media army to light a fire under law enforcement’s ass to finally do something.



Guys. In Marbles’ honor Koco tells her story. Because it deserves to be told. Grateful to her for putting it here, because maybe, at some point, it will aid in the prevention of this atrocity happening to others.



Let’s go.



#Chandler55

Presenting a special Saturday episode of A Pawdcast. In light of the crisis happening in and around our Los Angeles city shelters, and the questions so many have as to what the issues are, we wanted to sit down in real time and talk to a couple of the women who are leading the charge in making our voices heard and demanding change for a system in crisis. Please welcome Valarie Ianniello founder of Women United For Animal Welfare (WUFAW) and Shira Scott Astrof founder of the Animal Rescue Mission to the sofa. We talk about the dire overcrowding situation and why there are multiple dogs in every kennel as well as pop up crates lining the hallways and stacked on top of each other. We discuss the “No Kill” initiative, how it came to be, what exactly it means, why the false narrative is so dangerous and how it has overwhelmed the City’s shelter system. And lastly, and so very importantly, we talk about the lack of Spay / Neuter in a city where breeder licenses are being handed out “like candy”.

✨Since filming our latest episode, there have been even more disheartening updates regarding city shelters. The 3 million dollars initially promised to LAAS to hire more staff has been drastically reduced to a mere $277,048.

Additionally, the city officials have now announced they are considering defunding the shelters altogether.
The idea of defunding the LAAS shelters is appalling and demonstrates a shocking disconnect between our city officials and the suffering animals in these shelters. If these cuts go through, it would further decimate an already struggling system that relies on a skeleton staff to care for these vulnerable animals.

Let’s get into it.

In April of 2023 a dog had been found shot leaving him paralyzed in his hind end. A South Texas rescue stepped up for him, vetted him and bought him wheels. He went by the name of Butters. To their delight at the time, The Special Needs Animal Welfare League in Chandler, Arizona reached out and offered to take him under their wing and find him a home. The transfer was made. After a few months of ongoing sketchiness and lack of communication between Becca and SNAWL’s elusive founder, “Samantha Taylor”, Becca and her wife jumped in the car to go and get Butters back. As soon as they arrived, Becca knew her suspicions were correct. Butters was being held captive in a hell unlike anything she’d ever seen. This week on A Pawdcast tune in to hear Becca’s story of how she did not - would not - give up the fight to get her dog back. Even when law enforcement would do nothing to help. Watch and listen as she tells how months of detective work, combined with a relentless team of badass humans and a social media inspired army resulted in bringing down what has been dubbed “The House of Horrors”, leading to the rescue of Butters and the #Chandler55 .It turns out that the name “Samantha Taylor” was just one of many aliases used by the woman we now know as animal abuser April McLaughlin. McLaughlin has scammed over 30 rescues and at the time was hoarding over 60 special needs dogs in her 950 square foot home. Some of them did not survive. She since has been indicted by a grand jury on 24 counts of animal cruelty, 77 misdemeanor charges, failure to provide medical treatment to an animal and is currently behind bars awaiting to stand trial. Butters saved all the dogs. It’s time his story was told. We are excited to welcome Becca Chavez from Yaqui Animal Rescue, Shira Scott Astrof from the Animal Rescue Mission, Jenny Amuchastegui and Kimberly Elliott from the Be Like Josh Foundation and Koco Garcia from Handover Rover to A Pawdcast.This is Part 3 in the #Chandler55 ongoing series. Don’t for get to Follow and Subscribe so as not to miss an episode.

In September of 2023, on the inside of a 900 square foot home in Chandler, Arizona over 60 special needs dogs were found neglected, tortured and some, deceased. The raid by authorities also led to the discovery of an elderly woman living inside amongst barking animals, filth, defecation and death. It took months, years actually, to prove to police and animal control that something was horrifically wrong and that something needed to be done. In that time, more animals were acquired and more animals died. Finally, thanks to the unwavering voices of a team of relentless animal lovers, the dogs now known as the the Chandler55 were rescued and the woman behind this House of Horrors has been indicted by a grand jury on 24 counts of animal cruelty, 77 misdemeanor charges and failure to provide medical treatment to an animal. As this podcast airs, she is behind bars.



This week on A Pawdcast we continue diving deep. Along with innumerable others, our guests tell the stories of how this con artist cons. Shira Scott Astrof shares the rescue stories of her beloved pups Chester, Rudy and Bailey and how April McLaughlin, who went by the alias “Sammy Taylor” among many others, misrepresented her way in and “adopted” the boys. Shira lets us in on what her experience with McLaughlin was like, and how much effort and how many lies were told to her on an ongoing basis in order to keep the mind blowing deceit going.



We talk about that first phone call from Kimberly Elliot to Shira, delivering the information of the evil that was believed to be happening. What began with shock and disbelief soon turned into Shira getting on a plane to go get her dogs back. And there’s so much more.



Last week, this week, and for the next few weeks, we sit down with a few of the of rescuers who were instrumental in exposing this case. In Part 1 we laid the foundation, which for some of us began in 2019. We talk about the struggles in getting law enforcement to listen and do their job, We discuss dealing with a con artist, and what it feels like to realize you have been conned - in the absolute most horrifying way. Later we will get into what tipped off Becca of Yaqui Animal Rescue, and how she did not stop investigating until she got answers. Answers that eventually led to getting the dogs back.



Let’s go Part 2. Please join us as we welcome Kimberly Elliott and Jenny Amuchastegui of The Be Like Josh Foundation, Rebecca Chavez from Yaqui Animal Rescue, Shira Scott Astrof from The Animal Rescue Mission and Koco Garcia of HandOverRover. #Chandler55



Warning: this episode includes content associated with the feelings around the emotional impact of fraud and scams which could be triggering to some.

In September of 2023, on the inside of a 900 square foot home in Chandler, Arizona over 60 special needs dogs were found neglected, tortured and some, deceased. The raid by authorities also led to the discovery of an elderly woman living inside amongst barking animals, filth, defecation and death. It took months, years actually, to prove to police and animal control that something was horrifically wrong and that something needed to be done. In that time, more animals were acquired and more animals died. Finally, thanks to the unwavering voices of a team of relentless animal lovers, the dogs now known as the the Chandler55 were rescued and the woman behind this House of Horrors has been indicted by a grand jury on 24 counts of animal cruelty, 77 misdemeanor charges and failure to provide medical treatment to an animal.

This week, and for the next few weeks, we sit down with a few of the of rescuers who were instrumental in exposing this case. Join us as we lay the foundation, which for some of us began in 2019. We talk about the struggles in getting law enforcement to listen and do their job, We discuss dealing with a con artist, and what it feels like to realize you have been conned - in the absolute most horrifying way. We get into what tipped off Becca of Yaqui Animal Rescue, and how she did not stop investigating until she got answers. Answers that eventually led to getting the dogs back.

Let’s start here. We are diving in. Please join us as we welcome Kimberly Elliott and Jenny Amuchastegui of The Be Like Josh Foundation, Rebecca Chavez from Yaqui Animal Rescue, Shira Scott Astrof from The Animal Rescue Mission and Koco Garcia of HandOverRover. #Chandler55